The CEO Omega’s 'Soft Rice' Alpha - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Lan Yan’s mind was, of course, perfectly fine. The reason she called Su Yi’an into the bedroom was that she had just received a report from her people: those items had been given to her by He Xia. Su Yi’an hadn’t denied it, likely out of some sense of “sisterly loyalty,” preferring to take the blame herself rather than throw He Xia under the bus.

Besides, some things were not meant for Jiang Mu’s ears.

Looking at the person before her—eyes lowered, submissive, and exceptionally obedient—Lan Yan felt a sudden surge of frustration. This kind of personality was the most likely to suffer losses in society. If she had met someone else today instead of her, she’d probably be sold off and still help them count the money.

However, having seen so much scheming, wasn’t a sincere person exactly what she liked?

Lan Yan let out a sigh, her brows smoothing over as her voice softened. “The things weren’t yours. Why didn’t you just say so? I wasn’t going to blame you, was I?”

Now she felt like she was being the “bad sister.”

Su Yi’an shook her head stubbornly. “I made Sister uncomfortable just now. That is my fault.”

That was also because the items really weren’t hers; otherwise, she wouldn’t be standing here talking to Sister right now.

Lan Yan felt helpless, the tips of her ears tinged with a faint pink. “You weren’t wrong.”

Was she supposed to say she wasn’t uncomfortable? Or that she had actually… experienced certain things she had never felt before? Even though the little sister was fierce and unrefined, she had ultimately been considerate of her. Even when biting the back of her neck, she had been soothing her emotions, allowing more pheromones to intertwine.

Such embarrassing things were, of course, impossible to say aloud.

Every time the scene from earlier was mentioned, it replayed in her mind. Lan Yan suddenly felt that her body, fresh from the shower, was becoming sticky and restless again. The spacious bedroom seemed to shrink instantly until it could only hold the two of them. Her vision and her breath were filled with her—filled with this obedient, sensible little Alpha.

Pheromones began to leak from her nape. Lan Yan hurriedly walked to the window and pushed it open. As the wind blew against her, she felt the heat on her face recede slightly. These “special periods” were always difficult to endure.

However, with the help of the little Alpha’s pheromones this time, it likely wouldn’t be as painful as before. It was just those “extra” things during the marking process that inevitably made one’s heart race—and sparked fear.

She feared the unknown. She feared depending on an Alpha with her heart and body; in that scenario, she might lose herself and become entirely someone else’s appendage. There was no helping it—from the physiological standpoint of Alphas and Omegas, Omegas were born at a disadvantage.

She had even witnessed one of her friends go from an ambitious, powerful woman to a submissive housewife who yielded everywhere for her family. In the end, her husband cheated, her assets were seized, her children became estranged, and she finally went mad, ending up locked in a mental asylum.

Lan Yan knew not every Alpha was a villain like her friend’s husband—the little sister in front of her was a good person—but she was simply afraid. This was why she had been unwilling to get close to Alphas since taking over the company as an adult. Reaching this point today was a form of surrender to her own biology.

Fortunately, her luck was good. She had met an Alpha like this little girl.

“Alright, go take a shower and change. Jiang Mu is still outside; let him check the wound on your neck,” Lan Yan said, standing by the window and letting the wind hit her face.

The July weather was hot, and even the wind at six or seven in the evening wasn’t cold. It was just right, blowing away the mist and restlessness clinging to her.

Su Yi’an looked at Lan Yan’s long hair fluttering in the wind. Her eyes heated up, and she stood still without moving.

Sister was truly so beautiful. Standing, lying down—even doing nothing, she was a heart-stirring landscape. Su Yi’an desperately wanted to kiss her again, to measure that slender waist that one could hold in a single grip. That perfect silhouette, even hidden within a bathrobe, made one yearn for it.

“What is it?” Receiving no response after a long wait, Lan Yan turned back, raising an eyebrow at Su Yi’an.

Su Yi’an quickly averted her eyes, hiding the burning heat within them. “Sister, I… I forgot to bring a change of clothes.”

Lan Yan chuckled and pointed to the wardrobe. “Most of them are new. Pick a set for yourself.” She had wondered what was wrong. This little Alpha… what was she going to do with her?

“Thank you, Sister.”

This time, Su Yi’an didn’t hesitate. In fact, she walked to the wardrobe with a hint of eagerness. Her height was slightly taller than Lan Yan’s, but her frame wasn’t particularly large; she could manage to wear Lan Yan’s clothes.

Su Yi’an didn’t pick anything specific. She just grabbed a long white shirt that would cover her knees and turned to leave, not even taking any bottoms. She could wear anything of Sister’s. Of course, it was best if the clothes were infused with Sister’s scent.

“Wait.”

Lan Yan stopped her. “There are bras and panties in the middle drawer.” After a pause, she added, “New ones.”

Su Yi’an’s footsteps faltered. She bowed her head, turned back to the wardrobe, opened the drawer, and grabbed a set at random. Hiding them inside the shirt, she fled the bedroom like her tail was on fire. Her face was even redder than Lan Yan’s.

Or rather, she was thinking many things she shouldn’t be thinking.

Lan Yan’s face also flushed from Su Yi’an’s reaction. Belatedly, she realized the suggestion might have been inappropriate, even though the items the little Alpha took had indeed never been worn. After the embarrassment, Lan Yan couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving slightly.

The little Alpha was actually more shy than her, the Omega. After all, she was at a disadvantage due to her age.

The bedroom door opened and closed.

“You guys…”

Jiang Mu stood up, but before he could get two words out, the little girl emerged holding a white shirt. Without so much as a glance at him, she rushed into the bathroom.

Bang! The bathroom door slammed shut.

“Are you hungry?” Jiang Mu finished the rest of his sentence to the empty air, having effectively been given the cold shoulder.

What is going on? They couldn’t have done much in that short amount of time, could they? Did Lan Yan give the little girl a harsh lecture and make her cry? No, if she were crying, she’d run outside, not into the bathroom.

Sigh…

He truly felt like an outsider again. Ever since Lan Lan had this little Alpha, she started having secrets; she didn’t seem as close to him as before. Jiang Mu looked at the closed door and felt “heartbroken” for exactly one second.

The bedroom door opened again. Jiang Mu’s face lit up as he turned around. “Lan Lan…” Surely, Lan Lan still remembered him.

“Mm.”

Lan Yan sat down on the sofa and said seriously, “Thank you for your help today.”

Jiang Mu almost wept with joy. Finally, someone was acknowledging him as a living person rather than a tool. Lan Lan was the best. Jiang Mu pushed the food on the table toward her. “I brought dinner for you two. Hungry? Want some?”

Lan Yan’s brow furrowed slightly. She looked toward the bathroom instinctively and didn’t answer whether she’d eat or not. She only said, “Let’s wait for her to come out.”

Lan Yan naturally didn’t like takeout. She had hired a cooking auntie these past few days, but it always felt like something was missing. To be honest, she still preferred the little girl’s “handiwork”—literally and figuratively.

But their agreement didn’t include cooking. Lan Yan admitted that in this moment, she regretted it. She should have given her more money and had her come over to cook when she had time. Of course, that was just a thought; it wasn’t realistic. Setting aside the girl’s willingness, long-term contact would contradict her original reason for signing the agreement. Despite knowing this, she still wanted to taste the little girl’s cooking again. She just didn’t know how to ask.

Although Lan Yan didn’t say it, Jiang Mu could see the subtle look of disdain on her face. Being long-time friends, he tested the waters: “The food seems cold. It’s probably not great for you guys. Why don’t we ask the little girl to make something? After all, both of you have exerted a lot of physical energy, and it’s your first time, Lan Lan—eating cold food isn’t good.”

The first part made Lan Yan’s expression relax, but the latter part made her face darken. She really didn’t like these things being brought out into the open, even if it was her best friend saying it. Besides, other than a temporary marking, they hadn’t…

Lan Yan kept a stiff face. “It’s fine. I don’t want to trouble her.”

Jiang Mu realized his slip of the tongue and immediately tried to fix it. “Alright, alright. We’ll wait for the little girl to come out and see what she says.” He was genuinely curious about their situation, but since Lan Lan wouldn’t talk, he couldn’t ask. Perhaps he could ask the little girl, or just investigate it himself later.

Jiang Mu looked at Lan Yan seriously. “Lan Lan, do you feel any discomfort? Do you want me to check on you?”

Lan Yan wouldn’t truly get angry with her friend over such a small thing. Missing the underlying meaning, her expression softened. “I’m much better. She and I…”

The sentence stopped abruptly. Lan Yan naturally changed the topic. “Check the wound on her neck in a bit. The medicine you used on her—it won’t hurt her, will it?”

Jiang Mu caught the scent of mint reappearing on Lan Yan and felt a bit disappointed. “Of course not. I used the most expensive one with the fewest side effects.” He actually wanted to see if Lan Lan was “hurt” anywhere, but she seemed fine. The little Alpha probably knew how to be gentle.

Lan Lan was so quick, though—she had already used a scent-suppressant. The faint smell of wine he’d detected when he first walked in had vanished without a trace.

The two of them fell silent, the only sound coming from the television.

Ten minutes later, Su Yi’an emerged after a “combat-style” quick shower. Because she was taller than Lan Yan, the shirt looked a bit short on her. The hem that would have hit Lan Yan’s knees rode up, barely covering the tops of her thighs. Those white, slender legs that held a hint of strength looked incredibly alluring.

Jiang Mu took one look and immediately averted his eyes, his heart racing. Heaven knows why a perfectly normal shirt looked so different on this little Alpha; there was an indescribable charm to it. Forget Omegas—even Alphas wouldn’t be able to resist.

“Sister…” she called out in that slightly raspy voice, wearing that harmless face.

Even if there were no problems, that voice would create them. This was going to seduce his Lan Lan to death. Jiang Mu suddenly thought Lan Lan was quite “bad”—telling the girl to shower and then giving her a shirt like that. A classic “closet pervert” move.

Jiang Mu stole a glance at Lan Yan. Sure enough, he saw a different kind of emotion in her eyes. Her blush was basically identical to his own. Yet Lan Lan insisted on maintaining her composure.

“What is it?” Lan Yan’s face was flushed.

Jiang Mu had truly misjudged her; the clothes were bought to her own size. If she had known the effect it would have on the little girl, she would have insisted she wear something else.

Su Yi’an seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere. She continued, “I’m done washing, Sister.”

You’re done, so what? Why tell Sister? Do you have to report every little thing? Is Sister’s spit even sweet to you? Jiang Mu bet that if this continued, something was bound to happen between them. Some Alphas, even if sterilized, had a vibe that made you feel like you’d get pregnant just by looking at them once.

Jiang Mu grumbled inwardly. He saw Lan Yan nod gently, her voice soft. “Dry your hair and let Dr. Jiang look at the wound.”

The temperature in the room continued to climb.

Jiang Mu couldn’t stand these two. He walked over to Su Yi’an and purposefully put on a stern face. “Show me your neck.” He wanted to finish this and leave as fast as possible to avoid being the third wheel to this “good sister and good little sister” routine.

Su Yi’an, being nearly 1.7 meters tall, was taller than Jiang Mu. Standing wasn’t convenient, so she sat down and brushed her hair aside.

Jiang Mu lifted the gauze. After a glance, he said, “It’s fine. It’ll heal in three to five days. No need for the bandage anymore. But if you need pheromones, you must use the medicine. That bottle I gave you should last ten days to half a month. If you run out, come find me.”

He hurriedly started packing his things. “Since you both seem fine, I’m leaving. Are you eating this food? If not, I’m taking it for a midnight snack.”

Lan Yan said nothing.

Su Yi’an took the initiative. “Thank you, Dr. Jiang. The food is cold; I’ll cook for Sister in a bit.”

Jiang Mu glanced at Lan Yan, who couldn’t hide her pleasure. He grabbed the food and walked out with a stiff face. “No need to see me out.” If he didn’t leave, he’d die of single-dog misery. Hmph, the little sister feels bad for her Sister eating takeout, but it’s fine for me? She didn’t even try to make me stay! Even if I was the one who suggested leaving.

Once at the elevator, Jiang Mu suddenly smiled. He was happier than anyone that Lan Lan had someone to care for her.

With Jiang Mu gone, Lan Yan and Su Yi’an fell into silence. The ambiguous atmosphere grew even heavier. Lan Yan sat back on the sofa and picked up the remote, saying casually, “The night wind is cold, and the AC is broken. Maybe you should change your clothes?”

The AC wasn’t actually broken, and there was no sign of rain, but she needed a subtle way to tell the girl to cover up. At worst, she just wouldn’t turn the AC on for the next few days, no matter how hot it got. Those legs were constantly flickering in front of her, making her heart skip beats.

Besides, she had already stated she wanted the girl to stay the night. To kick her out now would make her look like a scumbag who used her and then discarded her. She couldn’t be that cruel to the little sister. And after the misunderstanding earlier, she felt guilty. With the three-day “special period” coming up, she would need her. Staying one night was fine; it hadn’t been an issue last time. And this time Jiang Mu wasn’t here, and there was another bedroom with a fully made bed.

“No, I’m not cold,” Su Yi’an shook her head. “It’s enough that I’ve dirtied one of Sister’s shirts. I’ll wait for my clothes to dry before changing. You sit for a while, Sister; I’ll go make dinner.”

She really wasn’t cold; in fact, she felt hot—her body and her heart. She thought this outfit was great. Earlier, Sister’s eyes had lit up just a tiny bit, and she seemed embarrassed to look at her. That was a good sign.

Lan Yan had no rebuttal. She stared at the TV without moving her gaze. “Thanks. There are vegetables in the fridge. Let me know if you need help.”

Actually, she wanted to say she wasn’t “dirty” and it didn’t matter if she wore more of her clothes. She wasn’t that much of a germaphobe. After all, she could accept her pheromones; why couldn’t she accept her wearing her clothes? But saying that now seemed inappropriate, as if she had ulterior motives. Fine—as long as the important parts were covered, she could wear whatever.

Su Yi’an walked to the kitchen. “Sister just needs to focus on eating.” She held to her belief: Sister Grape’s hands were not meant for cooking. In a family, only one person needed to know how to cook. Once they were married, she could cook for Sister and their children. Su Yi’an was thinking very far ahead.

Opening the fridge, she found a full stock of meat and vegetables. She decided on braised ribs, sautéed corn, and a seaweed egg soup. For two people, it was plenty.

When Su Yi’an brought the dishes out, she noticed her clothes from the washing machine were already on the balcony. Her thin T-shirt and shorts swayed in the wind, much like her own heart. Since it was just her and Sister Grape, it was obvious who had hung them.

Su Yi’an was happy but also relieved. She hadn’t washed her most “intimate” garments, wisely tucking them into a plastic bag in her backpack to take home. If those were hanging out there, she’d be too embarrassed. Their relationship wasn’t at that stage yet—though it would be another story if Sister were already her wife. Of course, if those two small items had been there, Sister probably wouldn’t have hung them for her.

Su Yi’an’s gaze at the balcony was too obvious. Lan Yan waited for her to set the dishes down before explaining: “I had nothing to do, and I needed to use the washer anyway, so I just hung them for you. They’ll… dry faster. You don’t mind, do you?”

The bedroom sheets had been black, but if one looked closely, there were traces. If not cleaned immediately, it would lead to too many thoughts, and she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. The girl was cooking, so hanging the laundry was just a small return favor.

“Thank you, Sister.” Su Yi’an shook her head. “Taste what I made today and see if it’s to your liking. Eat while it’s hot; it won’t be as good once it’s cold.” She couldn’t be happier, let alone minding. To be honest, she wanted to wear the clothes Sister hung with her own hands forever.

The topic passed. Lan Yan served the rice, and they ate quietly, but it didn’t feel lonely or cold. There was a rare sense of warmth, especially for someone like Lan Yan, who spent half her life working. Aside from family, she rarely sat at home to eat like this. Because the food was delicious, she unconsciously ate more.

Su Yi’an didn’t usually have a large appetite at night, but seeing Lan Yan eat a bowl and a half, she joined her for another half bowl. They finished all three dishes, leaving them both quite full.

After the meal, Lan Yan didn’t want to move. The TV was playing cartoons. After washing the dishes and tidying up, they sat on the sofa for over half an hour, watching the show with their own thoughts. They weren’t an old married couple, yet they felt like one.

Eventually, Lan Yan took out her tablet to handle company business. She received a detailed proposal for a celebrity jewelry endorsement and a report on the newly hired designers—small matters, easily handled.

However, a message from Lan Yu made her face turn completely cold.

The day after tomorrow was the 80th birthday of the Zhang family patriarch. She had to represent the Lan Corporation. The patriarch was her grandfather’s friend, so going was mandatory. The patriarch himself was fine; the problem was his eldest grandson, Zhang Baiyang.

She hadn’t told her family about Zhang Baiyang because she didn’t want to trouble her grandfather. Who would have thought Zhang Baiyang would become increasingly outrageous to force her to marry him? She hadn’t even settled the score for the recent incident, and here he was again. She would see what kind of scheme he was cooking up this time.

Lan Yan turned off the tablet, her eyes dark. She looked at the youngster still focused on the TV. “I remember you said you have no classes tomorrow morning?”

“Mm.”

Su Yi’an’s face remained neutral, but her heart skipped a beat. Was Sister thinking about kicking her out because she didn’t need her anymore tonight? Su Yi’an glanced at the sunset outside and wondered why it wasn’t raining. Seeing her clothes on the balcony, she had a sudden inspiration: “Sister, my clothes aren’t dry yet.”

So, please don’t kick me out? She wanted to stay with Sister tonight. Dr. Jiang had said she’d need an Alpha for the next three days. It wasn’t about taking advantage; it was just that without her pheromones, Sister would suffer. She didn’t want to see the scene she witnessed today ever again.

Lan Yan’s eyes shifted, giving her a look. “…Give me a copy of your class schedule.”

Who asked about the clothes? Was wearing her clothes really making the girl that uncomfortable? Seeing her dressed like that, she, the Omega, was the uncomfortable one.

Su Yi’an breathed a silent sigh of relief. As long as she wasn’t being kicked out, it was fine. As for the schedule, how could she not have been prepared?

Still, she said: “The schedule is only in my dorm. I’ll have He Xia take a photo and send it to me, then I’ll forward it to Sister.”

“Your first-year grad classes are this few?” Lan Yan looked at the schedule, slightly surprised, but didn’t suspect anything since majors differed. She remembered her own grad years being packed. No wonder every time she called, the girl said she was free. Except for a full day on Thursday, everything was in the late afternoon, and there weren’t even electives at night. It was quite a leisure schedule.

Su Yi’an, however, was staring at the phone in Lan Yan’s hand. Their phones were identical. It looks like a couple’s phone.

After a long pause, Su Yi’an nodded. “Because I was a special admission, I don’t have to attend some classes.” It wasn’t a lie—she had arranged things with the principal and mentor.

“Alright, I see.” Lan Yan didn’t press further, saving the image. She said to Su Yi’an: “Are you free on Tuesday? Accompany me to a banquet, how about it?”

Bringing the little girl was a precaution in case Zhang Baiyang tried to use her pheromone issue against her again. His actions were getting more despicable by the day; she had to be prepared.

“Okay,” Su Yi’an replied obediently, not even asking what kind of banquet it was.

Lan Yan teased: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off?”

Su Yi’an said seriously: “No. The money Sister gave me is already enough to buy me out.” She’d even “pay” to be with her, let alone receive money.

Lan Yan glanced at her. “Not doing part-time jobs lately?” She chuckled, remembering the upright girl who wanted a job just to pay her back for the coat. It had only been a few days, but it felt like a lifetime ago.

Su Yi’an’s heart tightened, wondering if she’d noticed something, until she saw the smile in Lan Yan’s eyes. She blurted out: “One job from Sister is worth a hundred or two of my old ones. I’ll just be Sister’s worker.”

Lan Yan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. The girl was not only obedient but quite funny. The frustration from Lan Yu’s message vanished.

What Lan Yan didn’t know was that the little girl in her eyes had nearly lost herself in that smile.

Around that time, the bedsheets finished washing. Su Yi’an took the initiative to help Lan Yan hang them. Lan Yan marveled at the fact that she was experiencing a sense of “domestic life” from a young girl. This was something she never dared to imagine before. She had thought they were just partners using each other from the moment the agreement was signed. But this kind of selfless, giving girl was hard to refuse. Let nature take its course, she thought.

Having reached that conclusion, Lan Yan no longer felt the intense resistance to an Alpha’s presence.

“Is there anything you want?” After hanging the sheets, Lan Yan, still thinking of compensating her, finally asked.

Su Yi’an shook her head. She lacked nothing for now. She just wanted the Sister in front of her—to sleep with her and have babies—but could she say that? She’d be kicked out instantly.

Lan Yan sighed and didn’t ask again. For someone like the little girl, she wouldn’t get an answer anyway. She’d just have to observe and see what gift would be appropriate.

As they left the balcony, Lan Yan wasn’t paying attention. A stray insect flew into her eye. She couldn’t open it and nearly stumbled.

Su Yi’an caught her in time. “Sister, what’s wrong?”

Tears streamed from Lan Yan’s red eye. “A bug flew in. Help me blow it out.”

She didn’t realize how ambiguous the request was. Or rather, in Su Yi’an’s eyes, this was a moment that would make her heart race and her face flush.

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